The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-08-24
THE STORY OF "NiNCY FAT."
How r. s. Elliott Tried 30 Make Socia. Queen
OF Her and Failed.

The New York Herald says: Not long
since there was brief notice announcing
the death of Mrs. General Il. 3. Elliott,
wife Of the late negro Congressman who. L
few years ago, took such az active part IN
South Carolina politics. Possibly no VIC
man of the present century has experienced
such sudden change from Indulgence 10
opulence or has risen 50 quickly n the so
cial scale. She was owned by family II
Columbia, S. c.. Her naGIe Was Nancy,
but Oh account of her plump figure She
bore the suggestive &ppe!lation OF Nancy
Fat. She was al aniable, humble creature.
Happy and indolent, with 10 ambition or
pride Of character, she Was as coltcnteQ
while engaged at the most menial toll and
drudgery, as when, arrayed IN iantaStic
and gauGy attire, she danced as belle OF tiie
shuckings During the period OF Repub:l-
can rule, Elliott while in Columbia was
one afternoon driving behind his splendid
pair of bays. He was dressed IN his uSua!
style of black broaGcloth and lavender KID
gloves. At the corner Of one Of the streets
he saw picture that proved to BE the key
to his destiny. It was Nancy Fat She
had Just drawn bucket Of wafer from the
pump, and It was balanced on her turbaned
head, the crystal drops trickling down her
brown face and neck. and sic laughed
good naturedly. Her skirts wcTc tucked
high, and there was 3 generous display Of
bare feet and ankles The effect was in
Simultaneous, and the congressman IN broad
cloth was hopelessly Infatuated with the
merry, ignorant water carrier nc Jesuit
was speedy courtship and marriage. The
transformation was wonderful as 1t was
sudden. From the washtUO and the cook
ing stove she became mistress Of :: Eagniti-
cent home on one of the fashionable streets
of Columbia. Elliott was q man OF brilliant
intellect and unbouudcd ambition. He
was one of the leading spirits OF the itepub-
can party, and was regarded as one OF the
most intelligent negroes who was ever
known in the South. He was from Boston,
Mass, he was i finished scholar and sue
cessful lawyer. His alliance with the IN
tutored Nancy caused general surprise.
Yet she was received by his friends With
courtesy and kindness. One day I w&S
passing her house IN company with Der
former mistress, when we esried I sight
that was droll and amusing. Beside a
marble fountain surrounded by rare eXotics
sat Mrs. Elliott. She was arraEed in g
costume of most extreme elegaoce. Peep
pg beneath her skirts Of amber satin we
plainly saw her bare brown feet. As she
saw US she quickly tucked them under her
skirts, and exclaimed good naturediy:
Now, old missis, don't laugh II your
niger: you know never did Ekc shoes.
# the General saw me he would scold, but
every chance get just slip thc22 off. Al
this tinery can't make ne forget the happy
days when l was plain Nancy Fat, and
now l am Mrs. General Congressman
Elliott" Much amused we passed on, and
left her with her bare feet in the damp sand
of the fountain. 4 few years la;cr Mrs.
Elliott became prominent feature IN the
Republican society OF the State, and also
figured conspicuously in Washington. Il
was during Genera! Grants administration
at one of the balls that she caused such a
sensation on account of the devoted at;ea
tons she received from certain prominent
white politicians who wished to make con
spicuous their approval of the social equal
ity law. The brilliant negro congressman
is dead And only a few days ago the wo
man whom he endcavored TO elevate by all
that wealth and power could do, died in
poverty and obscurity.